iFixit Gets Closer Look at Apple's Maligned FineWoven iPhone 15 Case With Teardown

[Falhófnir]

This is one of the worst products Apple made in recent times. Overpriced, low quality, low durability, bad looking, cheap looking

looks like plastic fibres to me, too, so not even truly environmentally friendly - probably even less so than leather which is a byproduct of meat production that's going to happen regardless.

Page not found NL - Plastic Soup Foundation

Steeds meer wetenschappers tonen de gezondheidsrisico's van plastic aan. We eten, drinken en ademen plastic. Help ons de plastickraan dicht te draaien.

www.plasticsoupfoundation.org

 

[jicon]

Much bellyache in here…. I had a bunch of cases on my iPhone 7 of differing quality over the last six years with the last three using an Apple leather case that held up best, -most specifically the buttons remain responsive. The rest of the case was twisting and likely in a year maybe need replacing.

I’ve got a new taupe fine woven, fits tight, and two days in as it should, looks fine I guess, and zero issues.

 

[run1976]

A case to protect your phone, and a spray to protect your case? Really??

Well. Boots protect your feet. Yet you spray them to make them better protected against water. How is that different? Did I like the leather better? Yes. Is it as bad as people make it out to be? No.

 

[vmac556]

At the end of the day (or many) it's an expensive phone case that will look like and expensive old and beat up case faster than you think. I buy $10 cases on Amazon so if it gets wrecked, who cares. I don't spend $70 for the same privilege.

$60 is not expensive for a $1000 phone, if you are using $10 cases then you have other issues my guy

 

[vmac556]

I tried them all and apple makes the best cases, 2nd is otterbox which are same price as apple. everything else is straight garbage sorry everyone get mad now

 

[SanderEvers]

Honestly they should've just kept the leather. I still have my Leather iPhone 12 case. It still looks great. I don't see a "finewoven" case last more than a year. And then it's just more waste, more production and shipment to replace it. Sure leather isn't environmental friendly, but neither is this.

 

[Piggie]

One could argue that a reduction in leather usage will make cattle farming less profitable. This leads to increased beef prices, which leads to decreased beef consumption. More of a long-term thing though.

It's a discussion you could have, but I very much suspect that Apple not picking leather, but instead woven plastic strands for their official cases will make absolutely zero impact on anything related to cattle/beef production.
As much as pee'ing into the ocean affects sea levels

 

[Piggie]

Fine woven mesh to protect your Apple

 

[return2sendai]

Worst case scenario….

 

[tcgjeukens]

iFixit suggests that those with FineWoven cases protect it with a Durable Water Repellent spray to make the case more resistant to staining and liquid.

Protect your iPhone with a Case. Protect your Case with Repellent. LOL. Wear Gloves to protect your skin from Repellent. Use Moisteriser to protect your skin against the Glove.

 

[ProfessionalFan]

I tried them all and apple makes the best cases, 2nd is otterbox which are same price as apple. everything else is straight garbage sorry everyone get mad now

Everyone is entitled to their opinion even the minority opinions!

 

[milhaus]

Anyone who buys Apple cases should really just order them from Aliexpress. They’re the same. Maybe they’ll offer a leather case for the iPhone 15 before even Apple does! I know you can buy the fine woven cases there already for 1/3 the price of an Apple one. I have been using the silicone MagSafe cases for my last three phones from there.

 

[Mac_The_Ripper]

I for one did not need a closer look at these cases to be able to tell they are trash.

 

[MaxBurn]

I think a lot of people in the tech world (especially here) need to stop making this more than it really is and start treating the case for what it is, instead of a priceless work of art.

My apple leather case on my last three iphones has been the best phone case I've ever had. It can take a beating and has the exact right amount of grippyness, not so much that it will turn your pocket inside out like the apple TPU cases, but grippy in the hand and about any surface so that it won't slide anywhere. I got this one originally on a amazon scratch and dent sale, had a big razor cut across the back but marked down to $30 I think. Today it has scuffs all over the place and after a year and a half only now is it starting to peel off in places. IMO distressed leather looks great, one of the few materials that improves with age.

That's why I look on to this fine woven case as a disaster. I think it's going to be too slippery and take the age to the next logical conclusion and it's going to have threads hanging off everywhere and look awful.

 

[Agent_Apple]

Received this garbage case along with my 15 Pro. Looks and feels like a cheap $10 case. I will be looking for a quality 3rd party leather case. So sick of companies virtue signaling and making decisions for me...allow me to choose between leather and "FineWoven".

 

[Crowbot]

Received this garbage case along with my 15 Pro. Looks and feels like a cheap $10 case. I will be looking for a quality 3rd party leather case. So sick of companies virtue signaling and making decisions for me...allow me to choose between leather and "FineWoven".

I'm not clear. Apple gave you a Fine Woven case and you're calling it virtue signaling?

 

[Greg_82]

I think a lot of people in the tech world (especially here) need to stop making this more than it really is and start treating the case for what it is, instead of a priceless work of art.

And what’s this particular case? A bacteria infestation or a petri dish? If hot sauce can go in, so does the bacteria.

 

[Agent_Apple]

I'm not clear. Apple gave you a Fine Woven case and you're calling it virtue signaling?

I am calling the elimination of leather cases due to their "carbon footprint" all the while Apple C-Suite execs fly across the globe in private jets, virtue signaling (e.g., in 2022, Apple spent almost $800k on Tim Cook's travel alone and another $600k in security, who were no doubt, armed with evil lead bullets). Tim also owns multiple homes. As the consumer, allow me to choose between a premium leather case (or watch band) and a crappy "fine woven" case (or watch band). Leather is not bad for the environment - it's natural and biodegradable. Fully expecting Tim Cook et al to next talk about the horrors of the carnivore diet.

 

[AgeOfSpiracles]

Yes, leather cases scratched. But leather scratches are essentially self-healing. They get filled in with hand oils. Over time this creates a pleasing patina. That's the beauty of leather. As it ages, it looks better. This new material is absolute trash.

People keep saying this, but my old leather case looks downright trashed, and not in a charming way.

 

[Crowbot]

I am calling the elimination of leather cases due to their "carbon footprint" all the while Apple C-Suite execs fly across the globe in private jets, virtue signaling (e.g., in 2022, Apple spent almost $800k on Tim Cook's travel alone and another $600k in security, who were no doubt, armed with evil lead bullets). Tim also owns multiple homes. As the consumer, allow me to choose between a premium leather case (or watch band) and a crappy "fine woven" case (or watch band). Leather is not bad for the environment - it's natural and biodegradable. Fully expecting Tim Cook et al to next talk about the horrors of the carnivore diet.

I try not to dwell on the hypocrisy of ultra rich people since they will do what they will do.

Is it that you require an Apple leather case or any leather case? Whatever the reason for Apple discontinuing the leather case, it's their business. Most high profile companies virtue signal. Do I think that Exxon is genuinely cares about the environment? Nope. I'm sure other leather cases are available. I wish that Apple would come out with folio cases for the phones but they don't. So I go to UAG.

 

[callen_v1]

looks like plastic fibres to me, too, so not even truly environmentally friendly - probably even less so than leather which is a byproduct of meat production that's going to happen regardless.

Page not found NL - Plastic Soup Foundation

Steeds meer wetenschappers tonen de gezondheidsrisico's van plastic aan. We eten, drinken en ademen plastic. Help ons de plastickraan dicht te draaien.

www.plasticsoupfoundation.org

They are plastic. Polyethylene terephthalate. (Polyester) This was a move 100% for optics and money. They took a step backwards as far as trying to be "greener". Yay, 68% recycled material. Less energy to produce. (Money for Apple) Less landfill usage? Kicking the can down the road. These are still going to end up in the landfill. The recycling process can make them more toxic, because it's very difficult to eliminate the addition of BPAs from the recycled material.
Not knocking polyester. I like the product. But Apple is disingenuous here.

Direct from Apple on the material. "Material: 68% post-consumer recycled polyester."

 

[d-klumpp]

Hard to believe this is really a discussion, and I wish I could've voiced my disdain on Friday for more viewers to read. Would hot sauce not stain a similarly textured leather surface, like suede?! I purchased the FineWoven MagSafe wallet, and I'm very pleased with its appearance and feel. But I guess I must be careful not to douse it with condiments, like I might with my traditional wallet. Really, sometimes I can't believe the nonsense I read here -- like every day is April Fools!

 

[ninetyCent]

What's silly is charging 60 bucks for absolute fecal matter and doing it in the name of preserving the environment.

Yup. And give it a name like FineWomen and suddenly it's better than "cheap polyester cloth" and get people excited and scrutinize it like it's some magic feces.

 

[Crowbot]

Yup. And give it a name like FineWomen and suddenly it's better than "cheap polyester cloth" and get people excited and scrutinize it like it's some magic feces.

"Style" always costs. Those of us who are more practical can find less expensive alternatives.

 

[ejmull]

This is FineWoven after a few hours of receiving it, cooking one meal. Normal use for us have never been a problem with any case Apple or otherwise. Crap product

Stains were almost removed with stain removal spray and rinsing. Should try to run in washing machine at some point